The Invite-Only “Tokusenkai” Grand Seiko Watches

Powerfunk Monday, July 28th, 2025 7 min. read
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The Grand Seiko “Tokusenkai” is an annual invitation-only event held in Tokyo by Grand Seiko for select collectors, VIPs, and industry insiders. This event is notable because Grand Seiko unveils special, limited-edition watches (“Tokusenkai models”) that are exclusively available to the evening’s attendees. These pieces are rarely seen outside of Japan. The Tokusenkai is sometimes referred to as the “Special Party” or “Special Selection Meeting” in English. Here I’ll cover all of the known Special Selection a.k.a. Tokusenkai Grand Seiko watches, spanning 2023 to 2025.

SBGE309 , SLGA032, SBGC261. Photo: Grand Seiko

Grand Seiko Tokusenkai Watches

2025 Grand Seiko Tokusenkai: SLGA032

The SLGA032, Grand Seiko’s latest “Tokusenkai” model, will ultimately be made for 50 of the brand’s best clients. According to Commit Ginza, 20 SLGA032’s are slated to be produced in 2025. It’s part of the Heritage Collection, with a 40mm “44GS” case shape familiar to Grand Seiko fans.

While most GS models are either stainless steel or titanium, the SLGA032 is rose gold. In fact, it’s only the brand’s second watch made with a full rose gold bracelet. List price is ¥7,920,000 (~$53,600 as of July 2025).

Grand Seiko SLGA032, a "secret" release of 50 pieces for VVIP's only
SLGA032. Photo: Grand Seiko

The Spring Drive 9RA2 movement inside is guaranteed to run within ±10 seconds per month, an improvement over most older Spring Drives which were rated to ±15 seconds per month. The 9RA2 extends the power reserve from three days to five, and it’s also thinner than previous generations, allowing the SLGA032 be 0.4mm thinner (12.1mm) than the SBGA364 (the other GS with a rose gold bracelet). Like many recent upscale Spring Drive models, the power reserve display is on the back of the watch instead of the front.

The dial, which is a new greyish-blue take on the “Shunbun/Lion’s Mane” texture used on many models before, is said to draw inspiration from “the sunrise in Shinshu.” Shinshu is home to Grand Seiko’s Shinshu Watch Studio, located in Shiojiri, Nagano Prefecture. This facility is where all of Grand Seiko’s Spring Drive and quartz watches are designed, manufactured, assembled, and finished.

SLGA032 Specs

Model NameGrand Seiko SLGA032
Reference NumberSLGA032
Year Released2025
Family / CollectionHeritage Collection
Case Material18k pink gold
Case DimensionsDiameter: 40.0mm
Thickness: 12.1mm
Movement CaliberSpring Drive 9RA2
Power Reserve120 hours
Water Resistance100 meters
Bracelet/Strap18k pink gold bracelet
DialBlue-grey “Shunbun” texture
Limited EditionTokusenkai 2025 special, 50 pieces (20 produced in 2025)
MSRP (incl. tax)¥7,920,000 (~$53,600 as of July 2025)
2024 Grand Seiko SLGA032 Tokusenkai Watch Specs

2024 Grand Seiko Tokusenkai Releases

The 2024 Grand Seiko Tokusenkai releases include at least five watches, three of which are men’s models. Shout out to Piazo.jp for breaking the news first. The SBGE309 is essentially a purple-colored version of the SBGE307, with an angular and aggressively sporty 44mm case. It’s a GMT watch with the 9R16 Spring Drive movement, which is calibrated to run at the highest modern Spring Drive standards (±10 seconds per month) but lacks the extra thinness and power reserve of the newer 9RA2. For the SBGE309 dial, GS again uses the swirly Shunbun/Lion’s Mane texture.

SBGE309 and SBGW307, two of the 2024 Grand Seiko Tokusenkai releases
SBGE309 (left, titanium) and SBGW307 (right, white gold), two of the 2024 Tokusenkai releases. Photo: Grand Seiko

At the dressier end of the spectrum is the minimalist time-only SBGW307 model, the only known white gold Grand Seiko Tokusenkai watch. It sports a 36.5mm version of the classic 44GS case design along with a silver Mt. Iwate dial. The Mt. Iwate pattern is one of the most widely-used Grand Seiko dial textures. But the most significant 2024 Grand Seiko Tokusenkai release is probably the SLGC002, the first and only Grand Seiko Tentagraph crafted in solid gold.

SLGC002, the only solid gold Grand Seiko Tentagraph, was a 2025 Tokusenkai release
SLGC002, the only solid gold Grand Seiko Tentagraph. Photo: Grand Seiko

The SLGC002 measures 43.2mm in diameter, 15.4mm in thickness, and 51.5mm lug to lug. The 18k pink gold case houses the automatic high-beat 9SC5 chronograph movement. The brown Mt. Iwate patterned dial with pink gold sub-dials is designed to evoke the look of “Dawn over Mt. Iwate.”

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Grand Seiko also introduced two ladies’ watches at the 2024 Tokusenkai, both with the automatic 9S27 movement. The STK028 has an 18k pink gold case sized at 29.5mm wide, 10.5mm thick, and 36.8mm lug-to-lug. Its brown Mt. Iwate dial is adorned with twelve diamonds. Meanwhile the STK029 is presented in stainless steel, with a more unusual case measuring 30.6mm in diameter. Its bezel is set with blue sapphires in a graduating pattern, and its whiteish-blue Mt. Iwate dial features a pair of sapphires set at 12 o’clock.

STGK028 (left) and STGK029 (right)
STGK028 (left) and STGK029 (right). Photo: Grand Seiko

2024 Grand Seiko Tokusenkai Watch Specs

Model NumberSBGE309SLGC002SBGW307STGK029STGK028
CollectionSport CollectionEvolution 9 CollectionHeritage CollectionElegance CollectionElegance Collection
Case MaterialBright Titanium18K Pink Gold18K White GoldStainless Steel18K Pink Gold
Case Dimensions44.5mm wide
14.9mm thick
43.2mm wide
15.4mm thick
36.5mm wide
11.7mm thick
42.7mm lug-to-lug
30.6mm wide
12.7mm thick
36mm lug-to-lug
29.5mm wide
10.5mm thick
36.8mm lug-to-lug
Movement Caliber9R16 (Spring Drive, automatic)9SC5 (automatic)9S64 (manual wind)9S27 (automatic)9S27 (automatic)
Power Reserve72 hours72 hours72 hours50 hours50 hours
Water Resistance200m100m100m100m30m
DialPurple Shunbun/Lion’s Mane patternBrown Mt. Iwate patternSilver Mt. Iwate patternWhite-ish blue Mt. Iwate pattern, 2 sapphiresBrown Mt. Iwate pattern, 12 diamonds
MSRP (incl. tax)¥1,452,000¥6,600,000¥3,300,000¥1,595,000¥2,695,000
2024 Grand Seiko Tokusenkai Watch Specs

2023 Tokusenkai Releases

The earliest known Grand Seiko Tokusenkai releases hail from 2023, although many weren’t delivered until 2024. At least four models from that year have made their way to social media. The SBGC261 is a 44.5mm Evolution 9 chronograph featuring a high-intensity titanium (the cheaper of the two types of Grand Seiko titanium) case and bracelet, a light blue “hoarfrost” textured dial, a blue ceramic bezel insert, and the Spring Drive 9R96 movement (±10s/month, 72h power reserve). Surprisingly, a few have come up for sale, and usually for less than $10,000.

The STGK025, the oldest known ladies’ Grand Seiko Tokusenkai release, is a 27.8mm model made of Ever-Brilliant Steel–a proprietary Grand Seiko alloy that is supposedly 1.7x more corrosion-resistant than 316L stainless steel. The radial-textured ice-blue dial goes nicely with the blued seconds hand and diamond-set bezel. The automatic 9S27 movement provides an ample 50 hours of power reserve.

2023 Grand Seiko Tokusenkai releases
2023 Grand Seiko Tokusenkai releases from left to right: SBGC261, STGK025, SBGY030, SBGH020. Photo: Grand Seiko

Two solid gold men’s models were released on croc straps for the 2024 Tokusenkai as well. The classy SBGY030 is a 38.5mm time-only model with a manual-wind Spring Drive movement (cal. 9R31, 72h reserve), with an 18k pink gold case, box sapphire crystal, and a black-brown “hanami” dial (a slate-colored version of Grand Seiko’s Shunbun/Lion’s Mane dial). The slightly sportier SLGH020 features a 40mm case made of solid 18K yellow gold, a navy blue-toned “floorboard motif” dial, and the impressive Hi-Beat 9SA5 movement. The 9SA5 debuted in 2020 and is Grand Seiko’s most advanced Hi-Beat automatic movement, featuring a 36,000vph rate, an 80-hour power reserve, and innovations like the Dual Impulse Escapement and a free-sprung balance.

2023 Grand Seiko Tokusenkai Watch Specs

Model NameGrand Seiko SBGC261Grand Seiko STGK025Grand Seiko SBGY030Grand Seiko SLGH020
Family / CollectionSport CollectionElegance CollectionElegance CollectionEvolution 9 Collection
Case MaterialHigh-intensity titaniumStainless steel18k pink gold18k yellow gold
Case Width44.5mm27.8mm38.5mm40mm
Movement Caliber9R16 (Spring Drive, automatic)9S27 (automatic)9R31 (Spring Drive, manual-wind)9SA5 (automatic)
Power Reserve72 hours50 hours72 hours80 hours
Water Resistance200 meters100 metersSplash resistant100 meters
Bracelet/StrapHigh-intensity titanium braceletStainless steel braceletCroc leather strapCroc leather strap
DialTextured sky blueIce blue, radial guilloche-like patternDark grey Shunbun/Lion’s Mane textureNavy blue, board pattern
Market Price (2025)$9,500$7,000$30,000$35,000
2023 Grand Seiko Tokusenkai Watch Specs

Grand Seiko has done well for themselves in recent years, firmly establishing themselves among luxury watch enthusiasts as a credible (and in some ways superior) competitor to the likes of Rolex and Omega. When it comes to watches so special that manufacturers have to “invite” respected customers to buy them, though, that’s typically the realm of ultra-luxe brands like F.P. Journe and Patek Philippe.

But with their Tokusenkai models, Grand Seiko has quietly joined that exclusive club. Sure, they’re basically just different metals/colors of other existing models, but it’s still a neat concept. Grand Seiko’s various worldwide GS9 events seem to be getting more attention too, so perhaps we’ll see Tokusenkai-like event-exclusive releases outside Japan someday. But until then, if you’ve heard of more Tokusenkai Grand Seiko watches that I didn’t mention–and there are likely several–feel free to let us know in the comments below!

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